Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely example of a WWI M18 helmet, which was most likely converted for use by the Third Reich in the 1930s before the widespread issue of the M1935 helmet. It looks like it stayed in service for much of the war, and was later arsenal reconditioned after 1940. This involved repainting it with the textured Panzergrau blue gray paint used later in the war, and it was fitted with an wartime M-31 liner and chinstrap. It was then fitted with a Heer Army Eagle over the left ear, but no national colors over the right ear, making this a very nice "Single Decal" example. The use of the second decal was discontinued in 1940, so it was most likely reconditioned after that time.

After that, it did see long service, resulting in overall wear to the paint, particularly on the crown of the helmet, which is missing most of the paint, now displaying an oxidized patina. The paint on the side of the helmet and interior is better retained, though it still does show some paint loss and oxidation. This gives it the incredible look of a helmet that was really there, in service for decades. The Heer Eagle is still very well retained at about 80%, showing some overall wear as well as flaking. The enamel lacquer overcoat can still be seen, extending beyond the edges of the decal, which is still a vibrant silver color.

The shell is stamped Si.62 over the left ear, indicating that Eisenhuette Silesia in Paruschowitz, Oberschlesien manufactured it. This company made shells in sizes 62 and 66 for the war effort. Size 62 is a smaller size that can accommodate liners from 54cm to 56cm or US 6 3/4 to 7. We were not able to see any rolling mill on the inside of the dome, and the paint is flaking, so we did not want to clean it and further damage the paint.

As this is the later M18 variation, this helmet never had the chin strap installation lugs on the skirt of the helmet, as the chin strap was attached directly to the liner. It still retains both of the extended ventilation side lugs, which are the correct extra long version with a big "step" for the larger size 62 shell. This would ensure proper installation of a Stirnpanzer brow plate regardless of shell size.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, and still retain a good amount of the original paint on the exterior on all three. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner with all eight of its fingers mostly intact, and the original top tie is present as well. The leather is however degraded, and there is some tear through on two of the fingers, as well as on the rim area. It looks to maybe have been exposed to water or grease at some point, and now has a cracked in areas. Definitely a liner that has a story to tell! It is tightly fit into the shell, so we are not able to see any of the markings on the galvanized steel band.

The included chinstrap is in very good condition, showing moderate wear to the leather, which has a lovely chestnut brown color. Interestingly, it is an early war example, with an aluminum buckle and attachment studs. It still has a complete manufacturer name and date on the end of the longer side: G. SCHIELE / LOBURG / 1937.

A beautiful, solid example of WWII Reissued M18 helmet with a single decal, a type that is becoming increasingly difficult to find. Everything about this helmet is absolutely correct! Comes ready to research and display!

The first "modern" steel helmets were introduced by the French army in early 1915 and were shortly followed by the British army later that year. With plans on the drawing board, experimental helmets in the field, ("Gaede" helmet), and some captured French and British helmets the German army began tests for their own steel helmet at the Kummersdorf Proving Grounds in November, and in the field in December 1915. An acceptable pattern was developed and approved and production began at Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz, in the spring of 1916. These first modern M16 helmets evolved into the M18 helmets by the end of WWI. At the end of WWI it is estimated that Germany had produced about 8,500,000 steel helmets. As a result of the restrictions placed on the German’s by the Treaty of Versailles, which dictated a standing army of only 100,000 personnel, there was an abundant surplus of these helmets, and though they saw widespread use by Freikorps personnel, there was still a stockpile controlled by the Reichswehr.

These excess helmets underwent minor modifications in 1923 with the addition of provincial identifying shield decals and in 1931 with the development of a new chinstrap and liner system. Although helmet development was ongoing when AH came to power in 1933, the M16 and M18 helmets were still the main headgear worn by the Reichswehr. The helmets remained the same until March 1933 when the provincial shields were discontinued in favor of the national tri-color shield. In 1934 the national eagle shield was introduced, and both the tri-color and eagle shields were applied to the helmets. After the development of the new M35 helmet, the WWI helmets were still issued to second line and training troops well into WWII. The Austrian M16 was almost identical to the German version with the positioning of the chinstrap liner rivets being the most readily identifiable difference.